Independent journalist Volha Chaichyts to be tried

She is charged with violating article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences (working for foreign media without accreditation). The case was opened after the publication of an article about urban development in the town of Fanipal on the website of Belsat TB channel, BelPAN reports.

“A police officer told me it wasn't personal. It wouldn't have been an offence if we had made a story and hadn't aired it. According to him, we didn't have the right to publish it on the internet,” Volha Chaichyts said.

Belarusian journalists have been found guilty of violating article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences 12 times this year. The total sum of fines exceeded 60 million rubles.